By Memory Mudzani
Redcliff residents were left counting their losses after an explosion at an explosives magazine in the early hours of 11 October killed a security guard and damaged more than 100 properties.
Redcliff Municipality public relations manager Michael Kundai Magoronga said the magazine belonged to Bimco and was leased to Intrachem, a company that deals with explosives.
In an interview with this publication, Magoronga said the explosion was suspected to have occurred during an attempted break-in at the facility, which is located in a mountainous area near Zisco and Bimco properties.
“It is highly suspected that there were thieves who were trying to break into the magazine and they might have used fire or fire-related tools, which resulted in the explosion of the explosives that were kept in the magazine,” said Magoronga.
He said the blast damaged more than 100 properties, including commercial buildings and municipal infrastructure.
“So far, we have recorded more than 100 properties, including commercial properties. Our Redcliff Municipality Civic Centre had its glass panes shattered, while Redcliff Hotel, City Gate Motel and other properties in Redcliff were also damaged by the impact of the blast,” he said.
Magoronga said the security guard who was manning the facility died at the scene. He added that the guard was found half-naked with his hands tied.
He said items believed to be used in break-ins, including bolt cutters and a crowbar, were found at the scene, further raising suspicions of an attempted theft.
However, the suspected cause of the explosion had not been independently confirmed at the time of reporting.
Magoronga said the matter had been handed over to the Midlands Provincial Civil Protection Unit, while the municipality had compiled and submitted a report on the damaged properties.
The local authority was awaiting further information from the civil protection authorities.
In a video posted by Redcliff Municipality, mayor Cllr Vincent Masiiwa urged residents to stay away from the blast site, which remained a danger zone.
Masiiwa warned that the risk of further explosions could not be ruled out because authorities were still assessing the situation and the condition of the explosives magazine, which had been buried in a deep pit following the blast.
